Four students from Raytown are among Missouri’s brightest high school students who recently attended the Missouri Scholars Academy (MSA) at the University of Missouri.

Local Students who attended MSA include:

Raytown High School
Yermeya “Zen” Bagunu, Kansas City

Raytown South High School
Gordon Casey, Raytown
Jacob Summers, Raytown
Cody True, Raytown

MSA began in 1985 and provides students opportunities to expand their educational and social skills. This year, students spent their time at Mizzou in intensive classroom settings, studying one of four individually selected subjects, including mathematics, science, social studies and humanities. Each Missouri high school nominated one junior-to-be for the academy; larger schools could nominate more students. Students at the academy represent nearly every county in the state.

“This is a special year for MSA because we are celebrating the 30^th anniversary of the program,” said Ted Tarkow, associate dean of the College of Arts and Science and director of MSA. “Students who come to MSA gain valuable educational experience that they would not gain otherwise while also interacting with peers who share their same interests.”

Outside the classroom, students were introduced to a series of activities, workshops and discussions by guest speakers. Students learned from experts in the fields of aeronautical engineering, global warming and autism. In addition, the students had an opportunity to hear from Linda Godwin, a former astronaut and current professor of physics at MU. The students attended performances by jazz artist Eugene Lowry and hypnotist Tom Thale. The students also took field trips to the National Churchill Museum in Fulton, Mo., and the Missouri Symphony Society orchestra.

MU is the largest and oldest university of the state’s major public, land-grant research institutions.

Raytown C-2 School Districtannounced its revised free and reduced price policy for school children unable to pay the full price of meals served in schools under the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program.

Local education officials have adopted the following family-size income criteria for deter­mining eligibility:

Children from families whose current income is at or below those shown are eligible for free or reduced price meals.  Applications are available at the school office or online at www.raytownschools.org  To apply, fill out a Free and Reduced Price School Meals Family Application and return it to the school.  The information provided on the application is confidential and will be used only for the purpose of determining eligibility.  Applications may be submitted any time during the school year.  A complete application is required as a condition of eligibility.  A complete application includes: (1) household income from all sources or Food Stamp/Temporary Assistance case number, (2) names of all household members, and (3) the signature and last four digits of social security number or indication of no social security number of adult household member signing the application.  School officials may verify current income at any time during the school year.

Foster children may be eligible regardless of the income of the household with whom they reside.

If a family member becomes unemployed or if family size changes, the family should contact the school to file a new application.  Such changes may make the children of the family eligible for these benefits.

Under the provisions of the policy, the Director of Food Service will review the applications and determine eligibility.  If a parent is dissatisfied with the ruling of the determining official, they may wish to discuss the decision with the hearing official on an informal basis or he/she may make a request either orally or in writing to the Assistant Superintendent of Support Services at 6608 Raytown Road, Raytown, MO  64133 for a hearing to appeal the decision.

Hearing procedures are outlined in the policy.  A complete copy of the policy is on file in each school and in the central office where any interested party may review it.

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